tie rod horror

[sil80drifter]

So my tie rod snapped....i couldnt steer and went skiddign into a tree. Now I have a dented fender and a broken tie rod. anyone know if it would be hard to replace it myself if I got a tie rod from the junkyard? Do i need to get any lubricants for the parts? anyone replaced theirs before, by themselves? (I'm sure u have, any tips?) It doesn't look too bad on the diagram of the steering, but I've never done it before, so that's why I'm asking.

please respond as soon as u can, I need to fix the car by monday.

thanks guys,

sil80drifter

[R240NA]

It's easy. The outer joint unscrews off the rod, and then the rod unscrews from the rack. The rack end has a weird square lock washer, you'll need to pry it open first. Takes 20 minutes.

[sil80drifter]

You know how 51% of the turns in this country are right turns? Well it was a right turn, stress was on the left linkage, the thing was rusty, so put those two together and u get the "snap" sound that I heard before sliding off the road. What's a puller for the ball joint? Can I use pliers? I have the FSM, and I have the diagram of the rod on it, doesn't seems to be a huge job.

sil80drifter

[91nis240]

Man few hours my ***! Just simply spray all the joints and bolts w/ wd 40 let sit for about 5min. The unbolts the outt part of the rod closet to the wheel, then you have to slide up that rubber boot thing to get to where the rod connects to the steering rack. Then you jus have to pry bakc that little metal clasp thing (4sided) then jus simply, with a wrench, unscrew the tierod from the steering rack.

my 2 cizents!

[sil80drifter]

thanks! I just needed some confidence so I can do it at the junkyard... (sounds oddly wrong, but hey...)

sil80drifter

[mbakman]

Mine hasn' t snapped yet but when I noticed on of my rack&pinion boots is cracked I figured I should get the tie rods replaced as well. Where can I find a little more info on how to change the tie rods? My main question is can I get by with just replacing the Outer Tie rod end that connects to the wheel? or do I need to replace the inner rod as well?

I was hoping that I can get the outer ends on either side replaced and just slide the new boot over the inner rods.

[sil80drifter]

i need a 1 inch wrench and some sort of...de-rustifier...what is a good de rustifier?

[sil80drifter]

Ok, so the right wrench size is like... 1 1/8 or 1 1/4 but I got an adjustable one, and I tried PB Blast, soaked the tie rod in it for a night, and the bolt that is on the inner tie rod togetehr with the outer tie rod is rusted onto the inner tie rod and I don't know what to do. I need to find a place with a good big vice so i can unscrew that bastard....where am I gonna find that on a sunday?....I am doomed

sil80drifter